Saturday was a gloomy, bitterly, cold day. We traveled to Cambridge and stopped at the American Cemetery and memorial. The memorial is the only WWII American cemetery in the UK. The University donated the site and the British government authorized use of its land. The layout is similar to a baseball field, with the American flag at home base and the graves extending into the outfield. There are layers to the cemetery, each section dotted with rows of white crosses marking those who lost their lives in the skies over the British Isles and in preparation for the battles to be fought on the continent. There is a wall of missing names that stands along the south side of the memorial with 5,127 names. 50 yellow rose bushes circled around the base of the flag represent each state.
The memorial also has a chapel. The doors to the chapel showcase 3D models of military devices such as tanks, planes, and submarines. Once inside, the chapel reveals a colorful mosaic of tile.
At the very end of the tour, the sun blessed us with its presence for just a few short moments. The gloom of the day made the sadness of the memorial even more apparent. Once the sun came out, the memorial seemed to reveal a heavenly image. I thought of the sun rays as God's glory shining upon the bravery of the lives lost.
After the memorial, we headed into the university town, or "The other place." The rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge is well known throughout the UK, although they are the UK's oldest and most famous universities, often linked together for their academic prestige termed "Oxbridge." The running joke of competition between the universities creates an atmosphere of friendly rivalry for sporting matches. However, Oxford is the older of the two and, therefore, the unspoken better. The college and teaching systems are both similar. Where Oxford has "tutorials," Cambridge calls them, "supervisions." Oxford is generally considered more lively because it is thrown into a vibrant city, while Cambridge is typically considered more lovely. Overall, the universities both possess incredible qualities and several similarities. Both have ivy growing on old buildings, little passageways, incredible gardens, and local markets. It is up to the individual student to discover where they fit best.
After exploring some colleges and the town, a few friends and I sought shelter from the frigid air in a tea shop to enjoy the warmth of some afternoon tea.
May you enjoy the warmth of friends and fellowship this winter.
All my love,
Gennavieve
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